External DAC for Expert PRO

[CongoFather]

I have tested 4 different scenarios;

1) Euphony(Roon Server) >> SOTM SNH-10G switch >> Devialet 220(Ethernet) >> B&W 804D3
2) Euphony(Roon Server) >> SOTM SNH-10G switch >> Mercury Streamer(Roon Bridge on GentooPlayer) >> Devialet 220(AES) >> B&W 804D3
3) Mercury Streamer(Squeezelite-R2 & LMS on GentooPlayer ) >> Devialet 220(AES) >> B&W 804D3
4) Euphony(Roon Server) >> SOTM SNH-10G switch >> Mercury Streamer(Roon Bridge) >> CHORD HUGO DAC(Digital Coax) >> Devialet 220(RCA Line Input) >> B&W 804D3

For all scenarios, I use a fiberoptical network with 2 different switches(NAS, Internet Router etc. are connected to one switch; audio-related hardwares are connected to the other switch which is SOTM SNH-10G).

2nd and 3rd setups sound better than direct Devialet Ethernet connection as it is in the first option.

Using an external DAC like Chord Hugo did not make any sense(4th setup) as ADC is first executed by Devialet even though Analog DAC output is sent to Devialet line input. It may be used to listen MQA, DSD128,DSD256 etc if your DAC supports.